Method and apparatus for use in the manufacture of synthetic threads



201%? AQOECIR Dec. 10, 1946. A. 1.. JACKSON ETAL 2,412,403

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC THREADS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1944 \JCGI bll HUU TWISTING AND wmme.

Dec. 10, 1946. A. JACKSON ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THEMANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC THREADS Filed July 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 amum 101214125. Jaafis'an "d JbfiaEIV/hlmml TWISTING AND Twmm.

1946. A. L. JACKSON ET AL 2,412,403

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC THREADSFiled July 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q Q Muff llhlmani azzaiw M D 1946.A. JACKSON ETAL 2,412,403

METHOD AND' APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC THREADSFiled July 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 mm Arlfiarl. helm): "MfifinKI/Zisnzmi a n1 a Ubla" bll IUUII' W N 11! G AND TWiF-HNG,

Dec. 10, 1946.

A. L. JACKSON ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OFSYNTHETIC THREADS Filed July 12, 1944 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec.10, 1946 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETICTHREADS Arthur L. Jackson, West Asheville, and J ohn K. Whisnant, Enka,N. C., assignors to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., acorporation of Delaware Application July 12, 1944, Serial No. 544,616

17 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to thread or yarn handling and moreparticularly to the spinningin and doillng operations involved in themanufacture of rayon.

In the manufacture of rayon, freshly spun filaments are collected orwound in the form of a cake in a rapidly rotating pot or bucket, or thefilaments are collected on a bobbin or reel. The spinning solution suchas viscose is extruded continuously into a coagulating bath and when apredetermined amount of the thread or yarn composed of the bundle offilaments has been collected in either cake form or in one of the otherpackage forms, a dofiing operation is effected. The clofllng operationinvolves, for example, in the centrifugal pot process, the removal ofthe bucket with the cake therein and the replacing of the same with anempty bucket so that the operation may be continued. Normally themachines for producing rayon have a plurality of spinning positions anda common coagulating bath trough. A corresponding number of collectingdevices are utilized. During the doffing period it is customary tomanually break several of the adjacent bundles of filments or threadstravelling in parallel and to group and lead the loose ends of the sameto a temporary collecting device such as a bobbin or godet, superimposedtemporarily on one of the usual godets forming a part of the machine. Bysuch handling of the thread, the succeeding portions thereof coming fromthe coagulating bath, which is continuous due to the continuousoperation of the spinning pumps, are collected as waste thread. Thethreads are not permitted in any way to become entangled or haphazardlydeposited upon the machine. During the period of collection of the wastethread in the usual manner the filled pots are replaced by empty potswhereupon the operator again manually breaks each of the threads anddirects the same into its respective empty pot. The dofiing andspinning-in operations manually controlled as referred to aretime-consuming and ineilicient.

Is is an object of the present invention to overcome the diflicultiesheretofore encountered in the dofling step and the spinning-in stepinvolved in the manufacture of rayon. The invention contemplatesmechanism by which the mere setting thereof by an operator will effectthe delivery of waste thread during the dofling period to a waste threadreceiver as a result of the action of fiuid current upon the thread.

In general the invention has as an object the handling of thread inwhich a continuous feed is involved for the winding of packages and inwhich the thread continuously passing is mechanically diverted to awaste collector while the collecting equipment is made ready for thewinding of a new package.

A more specific object of the present invention is directed to themanufacture of viscose rayon by the pot spinning procedure in which thethread or filaments passing from a coagulating bath are directed into aposition for the production of a cake and in which, upon the completionof the cake, the thread is severed and directed by a fluid current to awaste collector until an empty pot is made ready for the production of anew cake, whereupon the thread being directed to the waste collector ismechanically severed and again directed to a position for the productionof a cake within the pot as a result of the action of a fluid current.The invention further contemplates an apparatus in which the referred-tomethod may be practiced.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a rayon pot spinning machine withthread controlling mechanism formed in accordance with this inventionattached thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a portion of the machineillustrated in Figure 1 showing the thread being directed to acentrifugal pot for the production of a cake therein;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in which the thread is shown ashaving been severed by the severing mechanism with the continuouslydelivered thread being passed into a waste thread container;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view through one of the threaddirecting and severing members formed in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention including a diagrammatic illustration of thefluid controlled mechanism;

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of the pot spinning machine illustratedin Figure 1 including the means for controlling the fluid to the threadsevering and directing members;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view through the head of one of saidthread severing and directing members;

Figure 7 is a partial view in elevation of a pot spinning machineillustrating a modified form of waste thread directing element appliedto the 5 machine;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through one of the Waste thread directingelements illustrated in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure '7.

In referring specifically to the drawings and more particularly toFigures 1-6, inclusive, part of a pot spinning machine is illustrated inwhich a series of threads I2 are continuously-supplied or fed from asuitable source. Although the source is not shown, it may be a viscosesolution which has been extruded through an acid bath to form aplurality of bundles of filaments which are drawn from the coagulatingbath as threads |2. Each thread I2 is propelled by the usual godets (notshown) and is thereafter directed downwardly through a funnel I3 whichis reciprocated for laying up convolutions of the thread withincentrifugal ot I4 propelled at high rotary speed by a motor I5.

Pots I4 are normally retained within the housing I6 and each pot has acover |1 overlying the same for the purpose of preventing thecoagulating bath carried with threads I2 from being thrown outwardlyupon the surrounding portion of the machine.

A wall |8 having its lower end terminating in spaced relation to thecovers I1 is provided with a series of lugs |9 adjacent slots 20arranged within the wall. A stem 2| is pivoted to each of the lugs I9,the stems extending through corresponding slots 20 and mounted to swingin a restricted arc in a horizontal plane, and each having its end atthe front face of the wall 8 formed into a head 22. Stems 2| and heads22 are acid resistant and made of a suitable metal, hard rubber orsynthetic resin. A connecting bar 23 supported by pivotal connections tothe stems 2| by means of bolts 24 extends parallel to the wall I8 and isconnected to a handle 25 arranged at one end of the machine. Handle 25is pivoted near its center to a bracket 26. The movement of the handle25 will cause the pivoting of each of the stems 2| in a horizontal planeand in unison. Each of the stems 2| is provided with two ducts 21 and28, respectively. A flexible tube 29 is secured within the end of duct21 and the end of tube 29 through the medium of a sleeve 30 is connectedwith a conduit 3| which is in turn connected to a valve 32. Valve plug33 has a gear 34 fixed to its stem. Fluid under pressure from a source(not shown) is adapted to be admitted through valve 32 and passedthrough a conduit 3|, sleeve 30 and tube 29 into duct 21. Similar meansfor supplying fluid under pressure are provided for duct 28. This meanscomprises a flexible tube 35, a sleeve 36, a conduit 31 and valve 38.Valve 38 has a plug 39 and a gear 40 is fixed to its stem, which gear 49is in csnstant mesh with gear 34 of valve 32.

The heads 22 are each provided with a vertical passageway 4| which isopen at its side as at 42 and is provided with angularly disposed guidewings 43 in order that the movement of the stems 2| as a result of themanipulation of handle 25 will cause the respective heads 22 to moveinto alignment with the corresponding threads I2. During such movementof the heads, the threads are guided into position within the respectiveslots 4| by means of the wings 43. Each of the heads 22 is provided witha duct 44 in communication with duct 21, which duct 44 is of reduceddiameter and is connected into vertical passageway 4| at an angle tocause a jet of fluid to pass downwardly and out of the lower end ofpassageway 4| when fiuid under pressure is admitted into duct 21 as aresult of the opening of valve 32. Each duct 28 is connected to a fluidconicalshaped passageway 45 in the respective head 22 and the lower endof the passageway 45 is of reduced diameter to cause a jet of fluid tobe projected across passageway 4| which it intersects and out through apassageway portion 46 of increased diameter.

Adjacent each head 22 a waste thread tube 41 is angularly connected towall I8 at the rear thereof and extended down to a Waste threadcollector 48. Upon the opening of valve 38 and the closing of valv 32fluid under pressure is admitted into duct 28 from which it passes intopassageway 45 and outwardly through the portion 46 where it is directedinto tube 41.

A knife member 49 pivoted to each head and provided with acounter-weight 50 normally rests in the position shown in full lines inFigure 4. A bar 5| to which the counter-weight is attached has mountedon its inner end a knife and vane member 52. Vane 53 overlies the exitend of passageway portion 45 and is provided at 54 with a sharpenededge. At the end of member 52 remote from edge 54 is an angularlydisposed knife 55. As shown in Figure 4, knife normally lies adjacent tothe plane of passageway 4| below the lower end thereof but it is adaptedto intersect the plane of passageway 4| when a jet of fluid is directedupon vane 53 as a result of the opening of valve 38. Upon thediscontinuance of the jet through passageway portion 46 weight 50 willcause knife member 49 to pivot to its normal position and as a resultmove knife 55 out of the plane of passageway 4| while at the same timecausing knife edge 54 to intersect the plane of passageway 45.

In operation of the machine illustrated in Figures 1-6, inclusive, thethreads I2 are supplied continuously from a normal source and aredirected downwardly through funnels I3 and into pots l4 where, due tothe centrifugal force set up by the rotation of the pot, cakes .are laidup therein. The funnels I3 are reciprocated in the normal manner duringthis operation. After the cakes in the respective pots become built upto the desired size, a dofiing operation is necessary. Since one of thenormal sources is a spinning solution wherein a viscose solution isextruded continuously the threads I2 must be permitted to waste duringthe doffing period. This involves the movement of funnels l3 topositions where they will not interfere with the removal of pots I4.Covers l1 and the pot I4 are then removed, whereupon the cakes are takenfrom the pot and the pots again replaced for the next spinning-inoperation or other empty pots are placed in operative positions.

In order to effect the mechanical severance of each thread for thedoffing operation and the collection of the waste thread in a receptacleso as to avoid the improper accumulation of waste upon the machine,handle 25 i moved so as to cause connecting bar 23 to pivot each of thestems 2| to a position where the respective threads |2 pass downwardlythrough passageways 4| in the heads 22. During the operation as thus fardescribed both valves 32 and 38 have been maintained closed. The valveplugs are provided with passageways as is indicated in Figure 5 and therotation of the gears 34 and 40 by means of a rack bar or otheroperating device actuated from the end of the machine will cause valveVII 38 to open while valve 32 remains closed. Supply of fluid such aswater, steam or air under pressure is then admitted through valve 38 andthe connecting conduits into bore 26 of the respective stem and thefluid is then discharged into passageway 45 where it is projectedthrough passageway portion 46 against vane 53 to cause the knife andvane member 52 to be moved whereupon knife 55 severs the thread I2.Thereupon the extending portion of the thread, and the thread as fed isforced out through opening 46 into tube 41, and into receptacle 48. Aslong as the fluid is thus forced through passageway portion 46 the vane53 is held downwardly so as to permit direct passage of the thread fromthe passageway portion 46 into tube 41.

During the period that the threads are thus collected in the wastereceptacle 48 the centrifugal pots are removed and emptied and emptypots placed in operative position. The dofing having been completedgears 34 and 48 are then rotated so that valve 38 is closed and valve 32is opened. Spinning-in fluid is then passed through the .conduits intopassageway 21 of each of the stems 2|, and a jet of fluid is projecteddownwardly through passageway 4|. Since the fluid impinging upon vane 53has been discontinued by the closing of valve 38, vane and knife member52 is caused to move by weight 50, and as knife edge 54 passes throughthe plane of passageway portion 46, the thread, being delivered to thewaste receptacle, is severed by the knife edge. The jet of fluidentering passageway 4| through bore 44 engages thread l2 and causes theend thereof and the thread as it is continued to be fed into passageway4| to pass outwardly through the lower end of passageway 4| whereupon itis delivered into the upper end of funnel I3 and then into the pot Hwhich has been set in motion for laying up the thread in the usualmanner.

After the spinning-in step, handle 25 is moved in the opposite directionin order to cause the heads of each of the stems to move out of theplane of the respective threads I2 and gears 34 and 40 are rotated tocause the valve plugs to assume the position illustrated in Figure 5which results in the closing of both valves so that no fluid is flowingin either of the passageways 21 or 28 of the respective stems.

In the preferred form of this invention excellent results can beattained by utilization of an air or other gas for dofling the threadand the utilization of a liquid such as water for redirecting the threadinto the spinning bucket.

A modified form of apparatus is illustrated in Figures 7-9, inclusive.The spinning machine is of the same construction as that illustrated inFigures 1-6, inclusive. However, in the modified form the board l8 haspermanently fixed to the front face thereof a member 56 above each ofthe pots I4. Members 56 have passageways 51 in communication with asource of air or other gas under pressure by means of pipes 58. Apassageway 59 angularly disposed in a downward direction is provided ineach member 56 and it communicates with tubes 60 secured to the back ofwall l8, The tubes 68 are each connected to a waste collector 6|. Bores51 each have a branch bore 62 of reduced diameter arranged at an acuteangle thereto. Branch bores 62 enter passageways 53 at an angle andcause the air passing through pipe 58, bores 51, and branch 'bores 62,to be projected downwardly through pas- 6 sageways 59 through tubes 68and into waste collector 6|.

In the operation of the structure illustrated in Figures 1-9, inclusive,when it becomes desirable to doif, the operator manually breaks thethreads l2 and since the air has been caused to flow through pipes 58,bores 51' and branch bores 62 and thence downwardly through passageways59, suction is created at the entrance of each passageway 58 whichcauses the threads to be drawn into the passageways and for the threadsas they are continuously fed to be passed into the waste collector 6|until the dofllng is completed and the spinning-in operation is tobegin, whereupon the threads are severed by the operator from theirportions passing to the waste collector and the threads are permitted topass through funnel l3. Pipes 58 are connected to the gas supply line 63which in turn is connected to a suitable source of gas under pressure(not shown).

The structure illustrated in Figures 1-9, inclusive, involving themodified form may be readily employed in various types of operations.This structure is very well suited for employment in thread collectionsuch as the bobbin spinning process and in operations involving thetwisting of thread where the thread is fed to the collection apparatusin a. continuous manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In a process of collecting rayon the steps which comprisecontinuously feeding the rayon into a centrifugal pot, establishing acurrent of fluid, severing the freshly formed thread after apredetermined period of delivery into said pot by impinging the currentof fluid upon an element to efiect operation of severing means,subjecting the thread to the action of said fluid current for directingthe thread to a waste collecting zone, providing a pot for initiating afurther collecting operation, severing the thread from that portioncollected in the waste zone by effecting actuation of said severingmeans upon the discontinuance of the current of fluid, and directing thesevered end of the thread into a position for again initiating thecontinuous passage of the thread into the last mentioned pot byestablishing another current of fluid and impinging the same upon thethread.

2. A process of collecting freshly formed rayon thread comprisingdelivering the thread continuously to a normal collection zone,establishing a current of air, severing the freshly formed thread aftera predetermined period of collection by impinging the current of airupon an element to efiect operation of severing means, subjectin theremaining thread as it is continued to be delivered to the action ofsaid air current for di-- recting the thread into a waste collectionzone, preparing the normal collection zone for a further collectingoperation, severing the thread from that collected in the waste zone anddirecting the severed end of the thread into a position for againinitiating the continuous passage of the thread into the normalcollection zone by contacting the thread with a current of liquid.

3. A process of collecting freshly formed rayon thread comprisingdelivering the thread continuously to a collection device, establishinga current of fluid, severing the freshly formed thread after apredetermined period of collection by impinging the current of fluidupon an element to eflect operation of severing means, subjecting theremaining thread as it is continued to be delivered to the action ofsaid fluid current moving in a direction for causing the thread to passinto a waste collection zone, preparing a collection device for afurther collecting operation, effecting severance of the thread fromthat collected in the waste zone by actuating said severing means uponthe discontinuance of said current of fluid and directing the severedend of the thread into a position for again initiating the continuouspassage of the thread to the last mentioned collection device byestablishing another current of fluid directed toward said collectiondevice and impinging the same upon the thread.

4. A process for handling thread comprising delivering threadcontinuously to a normal collection zone, establishing a current offluid, severing the thread after a predetermined period of collection byimpinging the current of fluid upon an element to eiTect operation of asevering means, subjecting the remaining thread as it is continued to bedelivered to the action of said fluid current for directing the threadinto a Waste collection zone, preparing the normal collecting zone for afurther collecting operation, severing the thread from that collected inthe waste zone and directing the severed end thereof into a position foragain initiating the continuous passage of the thread into the normalcollecting zone by contacting the thread with a current of fluid.

5. A process for handling thread comprising delivering threadcontinuously to a normal collection zone, establishing a current offluid, severing the thread after a predetermined period of collection byimpinging the current of fluid upon an element to effect operation ofsevering means, subjecting the remaining thread as it is continued to bedelivered to the action of said fluid current for directing the threadinto a waste collection zone, preparing the normal collection zone for afurther collecting operation, effecting severance of the thread fromthat collected in the waste zone by actuating said severing means uponthe discontinuance of said current of fluid and directing the severedend thereof into a position for again initiating the continuous passageof the severed thread into the normal collection zone by establishinganother current of fluid and impinging the same upon the thread.

6. In apparatus for the collection of thread, a rotatable bucket, afunnel mounted for reciprocation within the bucket for feeding a threadinto the same to form a cake, vertically fixed fluid controlling meansindependent and separate from the funnel to automatically divert thethread from the bucket when the cake is complete and vertically fixedfluid controlling means independent and separate from the funnel forautomatically redirecting the thread into an empty bucket when it is inposition.

'7. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, means for guiding andfeeding the thread to the collection device, waste thread collectionmeans and vertically fixed means in the path of travel of the threadpreceding the guiding and feeding means for directing the thread to thewaste collection means upon severance of the thread at the end of aspinning period and during dofling, said thread directing means having abore through which a current of fluid is directed for propelling thecontinuously delivered thread to the waste collection means.

8. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevice for thread supplied continuously thereto, means for guiding andfeeding the thread to the collection device, waste thread collectionmeans, a back board, and means supported by the back board in the pathof travel of the thread preceding the guiding and feeding means fordirecting the thread to the waste collection means upon severance of thethread at the end of a spinning period and during dofiing, said threaddirecting means having a bore through which acurrent of fluid isdirected for propelling the continuously delivered thread through saidbore to the waste collection means.

9. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, means for guiding andfeeding the thread to the collection device, a back board, waste threadcollection means having a guide secured to the back of the board, andmeans supported by the board in the path of travel preceding the guidingand feeding means for directing the thread to the waste collection meansupon severance of the thread at the end of a spinning period and duringdofling, said thread directing means having a bore through which acurrent of fluid is directed for propelling the continuously deliveredthread through said bore and through said guide to the Waste collectionmeans.

10. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means having a guide secured to the back of the board,a stem pivoted to the board above the guide of the waste collectionmeans and a head on the stem in the path of travel of the threadpreceding the normal collection device for directing the thread to thewaste collection means upon severance of the thread at the end of aspinning period and during dofling, said head having a bore throughwhich a current of fluid is directed for propelling the continuouslydelivered thread through said bore and through said guide to the wastecollection means.

11. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means, a stem pivoted to the board above the Wastecollecting means, and a head on the stem adapted to be moved into thepath of travel of the thread preceding the normal collection device fordirecting the thread to the waste collection means upon severance of thethread at the end of a spinning period and during dofling, said headhaving a vertical bore through which the thread is adapted to pass whenthe head is moved to a position in alignment with the thread prior toseverance thereof and having a transverse bore through which a currentof fluid is directed for propelling the continuously delivered threadafter severance through said last mentioned bore to the Waste collectionmeans.

12. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means having a guide secured to the back of the board,a stem pivoted to the board having a passageway for fluid therein and ahead on the stem adapted to be moved into the path of travel of thethread preceding the normal collection device for directing the threadto the waste collection means upon severance of the thread at the end ofa spinning period and during dofling, said head havin a vertical boreformed with an open side through which bore the thread is adapted topass when the head is moved into alignment with the thread prior toseverance thereof and having a transverse bore OI. ltAllLto, orlwmwu,uwuluu iwv TWISTlNG AND TWINING.

in communication with the passageway in the stem through which a currentof fluid is directed.

for propelling the continuously delivered thread after severance throughsaid last mentioned bore and through said guide to the waste collectionmeans.

13. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means, a stem pivoted to the board above the wastecollecting means, and a head on the stem adapted to be moved into thepath of travel of the thread preceding the normal collection device fordirecting the thread to the waste collection means upon severance of thethread at the end of a spinning period and during dofiing, said headhaving a vertical bore through which the thread is adapted to pass whenthe head is moved to a position in alignment with the thread prior toseverance thereof and having a transverse bore through which a currentof fluid is directed for propelling the continuously delivered threadafter severance through said last mentioned bore to the waste collectionmeans, the head being further provided with a cutting mechanism having avane normally overlying the end of the transverse bore and a cuttingelement connected thereto normally lying adjacent the lower end of thevertical bore, which cutting element is adapted to sever the thread uponbeing moved across the plane of the vertical bore as the result of thecurrent of fluid from the transverse bore forcing the vane from theposition overlying its end.

14. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means, a stem pivoted to the board above the wastecollecting means, and a head on the stern adapted to be moved into thepath of travel of the thread preceding the normal collection device fordirecting the thread to the waste collection means upon severance of thethread at the end of a spinning period and during dofling, said headhaving a vertical bore through which the thread is adapted to pass whenthe head is moved to a position in alignment with the thread prior toseverance thereof and having a transverse bore through which a currentof fluid is directed for propelling the continuously delivered threadafter severance through said bore to the waste collection means, thehead being further provided with a cutting mechanism having a vanenormally overlying the end of the transverse bore and having a cuttingedge, said cutting mechanism also having a cutting element connectedthereto normally lying adjacent to the lower end of the vertical bore,which cutting element is adapted to sever the thread upon bein movedacross the plane of the vertical bore as the result of the current offluid from the transverse bore forcing the vane from the positionoverlying its end and the cutting edge on the vane being adapted to moveacross the end of the transverse bore to sever the thread passing to thewaste collection means when the current of fluid in, the transverse boreis interrupted.

15. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means, a stem pivoted to the board above the wastecollecting means, said stem having two longitudinal passageways there-10 in, a head on the stem adapted to be moved into the path of travel ofthe thread preceding the normal collection device for directing thethread to the waste collection means upon severance of the thread at theend of a spinning period and during dofling, said head having a verticalbore through which the thread is adapted to pass when the head is movedto a position in alignment with the thread prior to severance thereofand having a transverse bore through which a current of fluid isdirected for propelling the continuously delivered thread afterseverance through said last mentioned bore to the waste collectionmeans, the said bores in the head each being in communication with oneof the respective passageways in the stem, flexible conduits connectingeach of the passageways to means for supplying fluid under pressurethereto, and interconnected valve means for admitting fluid to therespective passageways as selected and for concurrently interrupting theadmission of fluid thereto.

16. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means, a series of stems pivoted to the board eachhaving a passageway for fluid therein and a head, the head on each stembeing adapted to be moved into the path of travel of one of the threadspreceding each corresponding normal collection device for directin theparticular thread to the waste collection means upon severance of thethread at the end of a spinning period and during dofllng, each of saidheads having a vertical bore formed with an open side in which bore thecorresponding thread is adapted to pass when the head is moved intoalignment therewith prior to its severance, each head also having atransverse bore in communication with the passageway in its stem throughwhich a current of fluid is directed for propelling the continuouslydelivered corresponding thread after severance through said bore andthrough said guide to the waste collection means, and common means formoving each head into and out of operative position.

17. Apparatus for the collection of rayon comprising normal collectiondevices for thread supplied continuously thereto, a back board, wastethread collection means, a series of stems pivoted to the board eachhaving two passageways for fluid therein and a head, the head on eachstem being adapted to be moved into the path of travel of one of thethreads preceding each corresponding normal collection device fordirecting the particular thread to the waste collection means uponseverance of the thread at the end of a spinning period and duringdoffing, each of said heads having a vertical bore formed with an openside in which bore the corresponding thread is adapted to pass when thehead is moved into alignment therewith prior to its severance, each headalso having a transverse bore, common means for moving the stem into andout of operative position, the bores of each head being in communicationwith one of the passageways in their corresponding stems, flexibleconduits connecting the respective passageways in the stems to fluidpressure sources, and valve means for admitting fluid under pressure toone of the passageways of each stem as selected and for discontinuingthe admission of fluid thereto simultaneously.

ARTHUR L. JACKSON. JOHN K. WHISNANT.

